TURF NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 64, 16 March 1945, Page 8

TURF NOTES

RACING AT TRENTHAM

TOMORROW'S MEETING

AUTUMN AND THOMPSON HANDICAPS

The Wellington Racing Club's Autumn Meeting will be held at Trentham tomorrow, the fixture being restricted, as in the past two seasons, to the one day. Naturally, the patronage by owners *rom afield is not so good as in earlier years, difficulties in respect to transportation being a factor, but there is every indication of the meeting being a big success should the weather be favourable. In the main, the class of horses engaged may not be quite up to Trentham standard, but where the Autumn and Thompson Handicaps are involved the position is very open.

CONDITION OF TRACK. The outlook did not appear very promising when heavy rain set in on Wednesday evening, but that was of brief duration, and the present indications are that the course proper will be in ■wonderful order. There is not the customary representation of talent from the. Auckland Province, but the South Island supplies quite a strong contingent, including horses from as far away as Invercargill. An earlier start than usual- will be made tomorrow, the opening event being set down for 11.15 a.m. The programme is as under:— 11.15 KIMU HIGHWEIGHT HANDICAP £500; 1 mile and 3 furlongs. Paladeo 10 4 Ko Uka 9 0 Day Lighting . 912 Penwilt 9 0 Silver Ball .. 9 9 Polario 9 0 Beneve 9 5 Rampant .... 9 0 Lord Broiefort 9 5 Royal Flash .90 Master Gary . 9 5 Toiere 9 0 Alrlle ...... 9 0 Opening events at Trentham are a i frequent pitfall. The Jist of favourites to fail was carried further last March, although the first fancy was by no means disgraced, filling second berth. Recent form suggests that Day Lighting! who was a winner in the same class in January when weighted at the minimum, should go close to repeating the effort. The topweight, Paladeo, has not done anything to, impress of late, but was a winner at Trentham in the role of hurdler in July. That was his last successful effort. Silver Ball is filling rather an unusual role in being transferred to this class of racing, and the-distance may beat him. Beneve, Lord Broiefort and Master Gary must ibe accorded chances, and of the mini-mum-weighted division Rampant, who ran third to Voltaire and Day Lighting at Opaki last Saturday, might repeat, if not improve upon, that effort. Day Lighting also claims an engagement in the Champion Hack Handicap, I tout if started here the order of popularity will probably be: " DAY LIGHTING, MASTER GARY, KAMPANT. 12.0 PLUXKET HANDICAP, £420; two-year-olds; 6 furlongs. Specialist ... 810 Run Bahadur . 7 S Controller ... 8 3 Sailor Boy ... 7 3 Eivemew ... 712 Balcherrie .. 7 0 lioyal Balder . 7 9 Blind Faith ..7 0 Iron Duke ... 7 7 Gay stock 7 0 • Battle Lord .. 7 5 Lady Scholar . 7 0 Confusion ... 7 5 Mesalliance ..7 0 Provider 7 5 Xißhtchild ..7 0 Culloden Moor 7 3 Omission ... 7 0 Frontal Attack 7 3 Pallas Athene . 7 0 Furioso ...:. 7 3 Roop Lekha . 7 0 Jung Bahadur 7 3 Sailor's Lass .70 Fallssy 7 3 Retake 7 0 Royal Sward .. 7 3

. Although there will probably be one or two further defections from the juvenile event, a big field promises to go to the jpost, and barrier positions will be important to backers. The position of topweight is filled by Specialist, who has had wins at his only two starts to date, and is 71b in advance of Controller, who was a winner at Masterton in October. The latter did not again race till last Saturday, when, on the same course, he failed over five furlongs. It would need a substantial improvement on his part ■/to win over the additional furlong tomorrow. Riverview, Royal Haider, and Iron Duke are all winners, but of the trio Riverview's effort, which was in the Hopeful Stakes at the Wellington Patriotic Meeting in January, was the most impressive. Confusion, a representative of the Riccarton stable of H. and A. Cutts, ran third in the Middle Park Plate on her home course at her only appearance under silk to date, so she is a likely improver. Form in the juvenile event at Opaki last Saturday suggested that Palissy, Gaystock ,and Lady Scholar are on the up-grade, and Battle Lord shaped creditably at Trentham in January. In a race that is brimful of possibilities support might well come for the following: RIVERVIEW, SPECIALIST, GAYSTOCK. 12.45 KOKTH ISLAND CHALLENGE STAKES. £1000; weight-for-age, with penalties; 7 furlongs. .Typhoon 10 0 Sir Boswell ... 8 6 Foscatcher .. 9 3 Al-Sirat 712 Beau Cheval . 9 2 Gigli 7 12 Golden White Blaze . 7 5 Souvenir 9 2 Deprive .... 7 3 , Eormuz .... 813 Behave 612 ./ Colais 8 6 :-- "With two or three of the candidates for the weight-for-age contest claiming other engagements, the field may ibe fined down on the day, but with •Typhoon to represent the four-year-olds and Golden Souvenir the three-year-old division it will ensure the two-years-olds having worthy opposition. At one period of its history the Challenge Stakes was repeatedly won by ■two-year-olds, but the incoming of Kindergarten as a three-year-old in 1941 brought the sequence to an abrupt closure, and the champion took the honours for- three years in succession. However, with Kindergarten absent, the younger brigade should make their presence felt, more particularly as Al-Sirat, Gigli, Deprive, and Behave are all of that age. But for loss of form, which might have been only temporary, after winning the Great Northern Foal Stakes, the Trentham youngster Al-Sirat would ihave been favourite, but the honour might now go to Gigli. Last year's winner, Clarice, has been withdrawn, and the trio strongest sought after will probably be: GIGLI, GOLDEN SOUVENIR, TYPHOON. 1.33 AUTUMN HANDICAP, £2200; 1% miles. Glenfalloch ... 9 0 Pixleap 7 10 Foxhaven ... 8 8 Signal Officer . 7 2 *ir*t In 8 6 Gunga Din .. 7 0 Lambourn ..8 6 Little Robin . 7 0 £»* 8 1 Mtss Medley . 7 0 Tara King ... 8 1 Singing Hills . 7 0 Longsword .. 713 Vafort 7 0 Beau Cheval . 7 13 Voltaire . 7 0 Palfrey 7 12 The big handicap of the day will be decided over a mile and a half. The form of Glenfalloch has not been so impressive of late as when he won the Wellington Handicap early in the current term, and the topweight, great horse though he is, may go out of favour as a result. It is uncertain which race First In will contest, but should she take her place here both she and Foxhaven will be respected in view of their exploits on previous visits. There has been something lacking of late in Tara King, but he is undoubtedly good, and has only to be at his best to play a part in the finish. Both he and Longsword should be improved by their outings at Opaki last Saturday. Among those lower down in the weights are the southerners Palfrey, Foxleap, Signal Officer, Gunga Din, Miss Medley, and Vafort. It is j very definitely a strong hand, for Pal- ■, frey is a sound stayer, and both Vafort and Signal Officer, who passed through the hack grade rather sensationally, look like good handicappers in the making. Foxleap and Gunga Din made very creditable showings- over a mile and a quarter at the Banks Peninsula Meeting, and the extra distance should not seriously trouble them. It is a field brimful of possibilities, and presuming that the track will be reasonably firm, the followingmay be sought after:

Da Vinci 8 3 Grey Donne . 7 7 Montosorrie ..82 Gj nerio .... 7 7 'I'ifox 8 1 Jamiie Girl ..7 7 Saludos ,7 10 Lady Chips .. 7 7 Arctic Night . 7 1 Laurium .... 7 7 Blanket 7 7 . Miner's Hope . 7 7 Cardoness ... 7 7 Prince Wherlko 7 7 Casilda 7 7 Tagore 7 7 Colopier 7 7 Tuis 1 1 The success of Sir Wina at- Opaki, his first outing in public for twelve months, has carried the chestnut to the head of the handicap in the hack mile. His effort of Saturday last was a surprising one in view of his lack of racing, but his task is more difficult here. Lack of recent form threatens to count against Riding Home and Mr. Valiant, but Da Vinci, who is on the same mark as the latter, must be a bright prospect when viewed by his effort at Opaki last Saturday. It may be significant that the handicapper raised Da Vinci 51b for his earlier success, whereas Montosorrie, who won over an additional furlong the same~ afternoon, was lifted 81b. However, the Silver-Stick filly also figures in the Champion Hack Handicap, and which she will run in remains to be determined. The strength appears to lie in the upper half of the field, although Saludos, Gay Corrie, ■ Grand Coulee, Prince Wheriko, and Tuis, all of whom are under the 8.0 mark, will enter into the discussions. A surprise result might be forthcoming here, but form points to: DA VINCI, SALUDOS, MONTOSORRIE (or TUIS). 3.5 THOMPSON HANDICAP, £1500; 1 mile. Whackie 9 o Gamble 7 9 First In 8 12 Hasten 7 8 Lady Spiral ..8 8 Hormuz .... 7 8 Beau Cheval .. 8 7 Foxeatcher .. 7 5 Immediate ..83 Patu-Ka 7 2 Flying Ace -.8 0 Big Money ... 7 0 Killeymoon . 7 11 Dileas 7 0 Bridge Acre . 7 10 Lotto 7 0 Daljarroek ..79 Royal Rae ... 7 0 Financial 7 9

At the recent meeting at Riccarton Whackie was tried by his new trainer over 10 furlongs, but the Arausio gelding made an indifferent showing. However, a mile should be within his compass, even though he has a substantial weight to carry. If started here First In should run a merry mile, and Lady Spiral would be a danger on a fast track. Beau Cheval is also in the Challenge Stakes, and should he run there Gamble, his bracketed mate, will represent the stable. The win of Immediate at Riccarton recently has brought this southerner into firm favour for the big mile. He earlier had the reputation of preferring heavy ground, but he has won on hard as well as soft ground. Even though he has not quite-reached the heights expected, Flying Ace has only to enjoy better luck in the running than he has been experiencing of late to go close to repeating his success of twelve months ago. After showing a fund of brilliance at his first outing following a spell, Killeymoon was backed down to favouritism over seven furlongs at Opaki last Saturday, but was beaten into third. The Leighon gelding figures in the big sprint also. The locallytrained filly Bridge Acre should give a great account of herself, and she may be the greatest danger to Immediate. Of those lower down in the weights Gamble, Hormuz, Foxcatcher, Patu-Ra, Big Money, Dileas, Lotto, and Royal Rae might make their presence felt, even though several of them will be racing in a stronger class than they have been accustomed to. Patrons will probably pin their faith on: IMMEDIATE, BRIDGE ACRE, FLYING ACE. 3.52 RAILWAY HANDICAP, £1250; G furlongs. John Gay .... 9 3 Donegal Bay . 7 0 Gulf Stream . 8 10 Grey Donne .. 7 0 Poutatau 8 3 Parlato 7 0 Alright 8 0 Silver Note ... 7 v 0 Killeymoon .. 7 9 The Champ .. 7 0 Lord Theio ... 7 9 Transmitter . 7 0 Theiolya .... 7 2 White Cap ... 7 0 The class engaged in the Railway Handicap is not as impressive as usual, but there are several smart and proved sprinters. Unfortunately, reports from the south suggest that John Gay is not himself, an injury having interrupted his training. Gulf Stream- will also be at a disadvantage through lack of racing, but Poutatau, Alright, Killeymoon, Lord Theio, and Theiolyn have recent form to commend them. Alright took the Telegraph Handicap on the course on the opening day of the January Meeting, and followed- it with a second over seven furlongs on the second day. However, fie was unplaced over a mile at the patriotic fixture. The manner in which Lord Theio won in hack company at Woodville when carrying 9.9 suggests that he will appreciate the drop of 281b, even though he is now in the higher grade. Theiolyn has been very consistent, although he has found it difficult to win in this class. Of the others, Donegal Bay, Silver Note, and White Cap (the two latter promoted from the hack ranks) will have friends. However, strongest support will no doubt come for: LORD THEIO, POUTATAU, ALRIGHT. 4.40 CHAMPION HACK HANDICAP, £800; 1% miles. Pink Bonnet . 9 0 Fuzzy-Wuzzy .79 Good Scout .. 8 7 Montosorrie ..7 8 Alcyone .... 8 0 Authentic .... 7 4 Barrage .... 8 0 Beneve 7 4 Silver Sal 7 13 Lord Broiefort 7 4 Verify 7 12 Lord Darnley . 7 3 Royal Victor . 7 12 Burma 7 0 Day Lighting . 7 11 Gynerio 7 0 Dunbar 7 9 The day' will conclude with the hack distance race. Included are several highly promising" sorts; indeed, it should be only a matter of time before several of them are doing their racing in the higher grade. Pink Bonnet has been racing particularly well of late, and as she was a winner over a mile and a quarter with 8.13 at the Pahiatua Meeting, the extra ground should not trouble her. Last term Good Scout was competing in the open grade and showing a fund of promise, but he has had only one outing in recent months. He was then backward. Alcyone and Barrage have both shown promise over a distance, and Silver Sal, who is lib below the pair, ran second over 11 furlongs at the Wellington Summer Meeting. Verify, Royal Victor, Day Lighting, and Dunbar have all been showing promising form around this circuit, and then come the two southerners Fuzzy-Wuzzy and Authentic, both of whom have given evidence that they can stay. If started here, Montosorrie must be accorded a great chance, and Burma may be the best of the others. Fancies might well take a wide range, with strongest support for: PINK BONNET, FUZZY-WUZZY, DUNBAR.